Student-Athlete of the Week: Julia Rudolph

Although she's just entering her junior year, Julia Rudolph has been a valuable leader for Niwot High School track and field. Rudolph was named a team captain last season and then helped the Cougars win the 4x400-meter relay state title, as well as the state Class 4A team championship.

Rudolph continued to beat the competition in early June at the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Competing for Niwot track head coach Maurice Henriques' REAL Training, she ran a personal best time of 2:18.36 in the girls' 800-meter, nearly four seconds faster than anyone else in her heat.

Her win was a "tremendous" confidence booster for her and her team heading into the summer, according to Henriques. Rudolph enjoyed the opportunity to chat with other runners from across the region and was appreciative of her strong support system.

"It was nice to have my family and coaches support me there," Rudolph said. "My teammates were also in it and there were other athletes from Colorado. It was really fun to get to know them pre-race and talk with them. Two of them were from Gunnison and I also met one from Lyons. It was really cool to see the atmosphere even though we don't train together."

About two weeks later, Rudolph and REAL Training left Colorado again for the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Oregon. Again, Rudolph crushed the competition as she and fellow Niwot athletes Kendall Madine, Anna Prok and Cayden Justice won the 4x800-meter relay with a time of 9:28.33.

Rudolph's busy summer continued with training that was complemented by a couple of smaller, local meets. She then took two weeks off in mid-July and is currently back training for the fall indoor track season.

At the forefront, Rudolph hopes to continue being a leader of a group that has also helped her thrive.

"I think leadership was a huge success for me," Rudolph said. "I got to be captain last year, which was incredible, leading this team with my fellow captains, and it was really cool to see people grow. I really do think that they help with everything. I couldn't have done it without them and the coaches. So this year, as far as success goes, I'm just trying to get back to that place where I can just go faster and harder with my team."

Great leaders often don't become one without help, and Rudolph said both 2021 Niwot grad Taylor James and incoming senior Kimora Northrup have been mentors for her since she was in middle school. And in the near future, Rudolph sees sophomore Eliana Henriques, Coach Henriques' daughter, growing into a similar leader.

High School graduation is still two years away for Rudolph, but her goal is to run track and study veterinary sciences at either USC or UCLA.